Power car



May 15; 1928.-

- c. H. RASMUSSEN ET AL POWER CAR Filed Jan. 23, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 1anuemto'a C-H-Rasmussen 3" C" Hofiswan,

x M WW rm May 15, 1928. 1,670,007

C. H. RASMUSS EN ET AL POWER CAR Filed Jan. 23, 1926 s Sheets-Sheet 2nvcnto'z CH-Raamussem 3'- 0 Hofiman,

May 15, 1928. 1,670,007

c. H. RASMUSSEN ET AL POWER CAR File d Jan. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Gnome-.

Patented May 15, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN E, RASHUSSEN, OF CLEVELAND, AND 31$ C. 301m, AKRON, OHIO,

' POWER 083.

Application filed January 23, 1926. Serial Io. 83,888.

The present invention relates to an improvement in power cars, theobject in general being to provide a vehicle or car embodying a gasolineengine and electric current generating and distributing appliancesadapted to be operated by the engine, whereby the car may be eitherpropelled electrically or the electric current utilized to operate anydesired electrical apphance or tool when electrically connected with thecar. Primarily, the power car is designed for use on railways, althoughnot necessarily I limited to such use, and such cars are usulit allycalled repair or maintenance cars, being adapted to transport both menand tools to any point on the railway where repairs are needed in theregular course of events or in emergencies such as railway wrecks. Undersuch conditions it is desirable to have a power unit capable ofpropelling itself and capable of generating electric power to operateelectric lights and tools, and the present device is particularlyconstructed to provide an easily controlled practical operating powerunit for such purposes.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is i a top view of a power carembodying the invention, and Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3is a longitudinal sectional view vertically through the car, and Fig. 4is an end elevation, enlarged, of the forward end of the car. Fig. 5 isa diagram of the operating controlling parts for the car, including theelectrical circuits therefor. Fig. 6 is a diagram of the devices forcontrolling the operation of. the gasoline engine and the electricalappliances operated by the engine.

The car comprises a frame or body 2mounted upon wheels 3. The centralpart 4 of the car is raised in respect to floor or foot board 5,whichpart 4 provides a deck and riding seat for th operator and workingwhen the engine is running.- This orator 11 may be continuously 0p--engine-may be of any suitable kind or type an connected to the generatorby spiral gears enclosed within an oil-tight casing, and. the electriccurrent obtained from generator 11 is utilized to operate an electricmotor 15 which is suspended from an ex tension 16 of frame 8, theengine, generator and motor being supported thereby as a single powerunit on frame 8, which is in turn supported upon a chassis or body 2 atseparate points, one at the front, and a second, mid-way of the car, toreduce the vibration to a Motor-15 is connected to the rear wheel axleof the car by sprocket wheels 17 and 18 and a sprocket chain 19, therebyproviding transmission connections for the propelment of the car, eitherfor wardly or reversely, the electric motor being reversible, andthrottle and reversing levers 20 and 21 respectively, being provided atthe top of a' controller 22 which is sup ported or suspended from thedeck or seat 4 at about the middle of the car. Throttle lever 20 isconnected by suitable operating parts to a rotatable throttle 23, andone form of operating mechanism is shown in Figs. 3 and 5, comprisingbeveled gearing 24 and connectin rod 25. Throttle 23 verns the speed ofthe engine and therefore the revolutions of the generator, and theengine throttle lever and the motor reversing lever are mounted closelyadj aoent each other and provided with positive interlocking devices 20and 21 respectively so that it is impossible to throw motor 15 acrossthe line except at the lowest engine speed, or in other words, toenergize driving motor 15 excepting only when the engine is throttleddown and is operating the generator at the lowest engine speed. Theinterlocking device also prevents the motor from being reversed,excepting only at the lowest engine speed. Thus, the interlockingdevices for levers 20 and 21, comprise two circular disks, each diskhaving one or more circular reoeses in its periphery adapted to permitthe other disk to be rotated, and as shown disk 20' has a singlecircular recess 20" in its corner edge, whereas disk 21' has threenotches or recesses 21" quartered in respect to each other. Throttlelever 20 serves to rotate a shaft or drum 26 having contacts 27 adaptedto engage stationary contact members 28 to open and close an electriccircuit a for-direct current motor 15, and reversing lever 21 5 a to Ypliances or tools may be electrically conplaced in a neutral positionwith the notch or recess on its disk 20 diametrically opposite disk 21,and ,when lever 20 is so placed circuit a is open as the contacts27 and28 are then separated, while engine 7 is throttled down to its lowestspeed. However, when 20 is in neutral position, revers- 7. In the lattersetting rotated in either, direction from its neutral ing lever 21 maybe turned either to the right or left to bring the contacts 30 intoengagement with the contacts 31. and 31 alternatively. When lever 21 isin either of its engaging positions with contacts 3131 respectively,throttle lever 20 may be rotatedmore or less to place motor 15 incircuit m and at the same time regulate the speed ofoperation ofgasoline engine 7 and electric generator 11; and if lever 21 is in aneutral position which cuts of? motor 15 from the source of electricsupply, lever 20 ma be rotated more or less simply to contro throttle 23and the operation of engine (when lever 20 is when the car is not inmotion. To promote that result, a parallel electric .circuit 1) isconnected to the Idirect-current'supply circuit a: of generator 11, andone or more electrical conductors 32 for the electrical apnected tocircuit b by means of separable attachment plugs 33, (see Fig. 5) A box34.- containing fuses 35 and a double pole switch 36 may be mounted inan accessible osition upon car body 2, and switch 36 may e used tocut-off the electric current to the attachment lugs 33, and it may alsobe employed to t ow' an alternating current on and off over anothercircuit 0 having a socket coupling 36' for a three phase alternatingcurrent which may be supplied by a single generator 11, for example, acombination generator giving either 2 4 kw., 3 phase, cycle, 110 voltsA. C., or 2 kw., 110

volts D. C. The A. C. circuit, in Fig. 5, is'

indicated by the reference letter a, and a t e is useful inasmuch as avariety of D. and A. C. electrical tools'and appliances are used onrailroads such as rail saws, drills, tie tampers, flood lights, etc. V 4

On forn 1 of electrical tool with a special mounting is shown; in thedrawings, see Figs. 1 to 4. This device comprises a motor anelectricreversing switc v and a ma n electric swltch for said motor.

7 reversing switch be' aeraoov driven drilling or screwing device 38which is slidably supported upon a double jointed swinging yoke 39attached to the sides or front corners of the car body, and the devicemay be used to 'bore openings in the plates or ties at each side of therail or to drive or screw spikes or screws into the ties.

Internal combustion engine 7 may be of a standard type, air cooled andof any desired horse power, equipped with a float feed carburetor, andusing either kerosene or gasoline as a fuel. In operation the enginespeed is controlled by trottle lever, 20,

and the variation in speed of the engine may be arranged to operate thedirect-coupled generator so as to produce say volts when control lever20 closes the circuit for motor 15, and up to 110 volts when at fullspeed, thereby driving the carat variable speeds, the torque at themotorvarying directly as the engine speed, and a dual control beingobtained forthe throttle of the engine and the motor switch throughsingle lever 20. Motor 15 may be a two H. R, 110 volt D. C. seriesmotor, having characteristics which are such that it will stand, 5 H. P.intermittent duty, and giving a speed up to 25 miles per hour without 4overload.

What we claim, is: v

1. A power car, comprising an internal combustion engine controlled by athrottle,

an electric generator, driven by said engine,

an electric motor operated by said generator for driving said car, andan electric switch for said motor operabl connected with said throttle,said engine eing only used for driving said generator.

2. A power car, comprising an internal combustion engine havin athrottle, an electric generator operated y said engine, an electricmotor having electrical connection with said generator, anelectricvswitch for said motor, and a single controller for said switchand throttle, said controller being adapted to control said engine andsaid motor singly and combined.

3. A power car, comprising an internal combustion engine having athrottle, an electric enerator driven by said engine, an electric motoroperated by said generator,

for sald motor,

connected with said throttle, said electric 4. A power car, comprisingan internal combustion enginehavmg a throttlev forcontrolling' itsspeed, an electric, generator coupled to said engine, mechanism forpropelling said car including an electric motor. enerator,

deriving its current from said and an electric switch coupled to t eengine throttle and ada ted to energize the motor initially only w enthe engine is throttled down and is operating the generator at the lowerengine speeds.

5. A power car, comprising an engine having a speed governing throttle,an electric generator adapted to be driven continuously by said engineat variable speeds, ropellin mechanism for said car inclu ing an ectricmotor electrically connected with said generator, said motor and enginethrottle having a single controller, and means co-operating with saidcontroller for safeguarding the operation of said motor. 6. A power car,comprising an engine having a throttle, an electric generator operablyconnected with said engine, and electric motor for driving said car, anelectric reversing switch and a main switch for controlling said motor,said main switch having operating connection with said engine throttle,and interlocking devices for said switches to prevent the reversingswitch 0 from being operated while the main switch is being manipulated.

7. A power car, comprising an engine having a trottle, an electricgenerator driven by said engine, an electric motor adapted to beoperated by said generator, a rever's ing switch and a main switch forthe motor, an operating connection between said main switch and enginethrottle, and separate controlling devices for said switches adapted toV lock one switch while the other switch is mon controller for theengine and said motor, and separate direct current and alternatingcurrent connections upon said car adapted to permit various electricalappliances to be coupled to said generator.

9. A power car, comprising an engine having a'throttle, an electricgenerator coupled to said engine, an electric motor and propelling meansfor said car, a current su ply circuit from said generator to saidm'otorllaw ing a main switch anda reversing switch to control theoperation of the motor,said main switch being operably connected withthe engine throttle, and, a second supply circuit from said generatorhaving a switch and .de-

,tachable coupling connections for supplying electric current to otherelectrical appliances adapted to be carried upon said car.-

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures.

CHRISTIAN n. RASMUSSEK JAY o. HOFFMAN.

